Russell steps in for pregame manager duties

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

BALTIMORE -- Orioles bench coach John Russell stepped in for manager Buck Showalter during Saturday's pregame media session, the first of two fill-ins within a week.

Showalter, due to arrive back at Camden Yards well before game time on Saturday after attending his son Nathan's graduation from TCU, will miss next Saturday's game in Kansas City to attend his daughter Allie's law school graduation.

Russell, who managed the Pirates from 2008-10, said Saturday wasn't all that different than any other day, as he spoke with Showalter before the O's manager got on the plane.

"I enjoy what I do, whether it's the bench coach, managing or whether it's something else in baseball," Russell said. "I thoroughly enjoy coming to the ballpark. It may not look like it because I don't talk to you guys very often, but it's not really my place.

"I'm stepping in for a guy I truly respect and has done a great job in Baltimore and I've learned a lot from, and really enjoy coming to the ballpark and working with him. I wouldn't say this is anything more than that, that I'm here to take over because he's not here. Just like when he gets thrown out of a game. It's his team, but it's our team, and I really look at it that way."

Davis makes rehab start at Double-A Bowie

BALTIMORE -- Chris Davis made his rehab debut Saturday night for Double-A Bowie in his first -- and possibly last -- rehab game.

Davis, who is working his way back from a left oblique strain, could be activated on Sunday after going 1-for-4 and playing all nine innings at first base, and Orioles bench coach John Russell -- filling in for manager Buck Showalter -- expected Davis to plead his case after Saturday's game.

"We'll see," Russell said. "Me personally, I'd love to say yes. Knowing Chris, I think chances are pretty good that's what he's going to say. But I've been around baseball enough. I've seen obliques over the last few years. I don't want to step out there and say it's going to be great.

"I've seen guys take BP, I've seen them in the cage swing as hard as they can, and the first swing in a game, they felt it. So, until we get through tonight, I'm very optimistic, I think CD's very optimistic about it. If he comes through it great and it feels great, I think the first thing on his mind is, 'When should I be able to be activated?' And again, we'll cross that bridge when it happens. But we fully expect that if everything goes great that Chris will be back very soon."

Davis has moved quickly through the whole rehab process and he took batting practice on Friday, which was the last step before playing in a game.

No timetable for Wieters to resume throwing

BALTIMORE -- Orioles catcher Matt Wieters served as designated hitter again on Saturday and bench coach John Russell said there are no immediate plans for him to test his right elbow.

"Probably not the next couple of days," Russell said of when Wieters could try to throw. "It's tough to put an exact timeline on Matt because it is a different kind of scenario. He doesn't really feel pain, it's not loose, he can move it around, he doesn't feel much. He just doesn't feel like he has much on it the last couple games when he'd make a throw back to second."

Russell said it will depend on how Wieters feels along with input from the team's athletic trainers and they won't rush the process.

"I know if it was me, I'd want to make sure it's kind of OK, because you don't want to make that throw and get set back," he said.

"I was telling someone earlier that once we see Matt pick up a ball and go to the outfield and play catch, then we can kind of see what kind of timeline we have barring any setbacks. But right now, is it a week or two weeks? I can't really put anything on it and I don't think Matt can either. We're not going to rush it. I know that. We want him back, we want him catching. To try to get him back three or four days early and have a setback is not worth it. We need him for the long haul, and if it takes another two or three weeks, we're willing to wait."

Wieters, who was determined to not be a candidate for surgery after Wednesday's visit to Dr. James Andrews, has had no issues swinging. Without the Gold Glove Award winner, the O's have used Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph behind the plate.